Things your Mother Never told you about Spices Cumin Powder?

Cumin Seeds, an Egyptian native, is widely used in Indian recipes. If you see small, leaf-like seeds with fragrance that influences your foods taste, they are probably Cumin Seeds. Traditionally, cumin seeds were used for Egyptians for medical purposes. Cumin is recognized for its cooking and healing properties.

In Indian and Middle Eastern Continents, cumin seeds are used in powdered form as Cumin Powder. Sterling Groceries, a traditional spices company, offers whole spices, raw spices, and Spices Powder, which is manufactured after going through rigorous quality checks.  They provide an insight into cumin, its uses and benefits.

Uses of Cumin Powder

Traditional Uses

Traditionally, Cumin is used to minimize inflammation, augment urination process, gas prevention, and suppressing muscle spasms. It serves as a remedy for jaundice, indigestion, flatulence, and diarrhea.

Benefits of Cumin Powder

The effects of cumin components may be anticancer, antioxidant, antibacterial, and larvicidal. The cumin is known to control blood sugar, minimize seizures, and strengthen bones.

·         Provides Iron

The Scientific name for Cumin seeds is Cuminum Cyminum, which are rich in iron.  Iron help keep your immune system healthy.

·         Helps in Digestion

Cumin seeds, since ages, have been used in food for their digestive properties. Research shows that cumin help digest food by stimulating pancreatic enzymes secretion.

·         Helps Prevent Cancer

Cumin Seeds are known to have anti-carcinogenic properties. It helps stimulate secretion of detoxifying and anti-carcinogenic enzymes and contains antioxidants like Vitamin A and Vitamin C.

Other benefits include Curing Piles, remedy for Insomnia and common cold, reducing Respiratory Disorders etc.

How to make Chat Masala at your Home?

If you cook, you can tell the difference between a readymade Chat Masala and a homemade preparation. Many Spice manufacturing companies like Sterling Groceries produce quality spices but homemade preparations have a distinct taste and fragrance.

Making Chat Masala at home is easy than you think. We tell you the basics ingredients and method for home preparation of the spice powder.

Ingredients (make for 3-4 cups) (courtesy: ecurry.com)

·         4 tablespoon Coriander Seeds

·         4 teaspoon roasted cumin powder

·         1.5 teaspoon carom seeds

·         2.5-3 tablespoon black salt/Kala Namak/rock salt

·         5 red dried chilies, stems removed

·         3 teaspoon dried mango powder/Amchur

·         A very generous pinch of Hing/Asafoetida (about 1/4 teaspoon)

·         1/2 teaspoon dried ginger powder

·         1.5 teaspoon ground black pepper

·         1 teaspoon dried mint (optional)

·         2-3 teaspoons Kashmiri red chili powder/paprika (optional, for a nice bright color)

Method

Step 1: Roasting

For a start, roast the cumin seeds, coriander seeds, and carom seeds at low flame. After few minutes, check out for an aromatic fragrance and darker shade of the seeds.

Step 2: Cooling

If you feel, the seeds are warm enough, remove them from the flame and let cool. Make sure, you do not cool the mixture below room temperature.

Step 3: Grinding

Grind them collectively till they are densely powdered.

Some more things to remember

·         Preparation time: 5-10 minutes

·         Cooking Time: 5-10 minutes

·         Serves: Make for 3-4 cups

·         Shelf Life: For (freshness and fragrance) Use within a month or otherwise, they can be edible for months.

Variations of taste

Individual’s tastes vary, so it is suggested that quantity of the ingredients must be chosen according to one’s taste.

Heres Why You Couldnt Forget Your Grandmothers Recipes Secrets Revealed

Yes, your grandmothers recipes were finger licking and why not be? She had oceans of how-to-make-tasty-food knowledge. It was a perfect blend of ingredients. The smell of the dish was intimidating. Water in your mouth!! One simply cannot forget the taste. The dishes were delicious, spicy and mouth-watering. No matter how many guests came to your house, she would achieve the same taste in no time.

Ever wondered, how she cast the magic? Sterling Groceries Pvt Limited spills the beans. Get to know the secret behind the spellbound recipes. Sterling Groceries Pvt Limited is a company that deals in spices and is located in New Delhi. The quality of spices they produce have got them a place with WAL-MART, Carrefour, METRO, SPAR, and Reliance, in branded as well as tailor made segments.

The secret behind these recipes lies in traditional spices. You use them everyday yet you are unaware of how-to-use thing, shares a grandmother of three. Indian traditional spices and herbs have been used for ages yet their taste remains unaltered. It has been passed from generations to generations and still they rule the kitchen.

Some of the commonly used spices are:

Asafoetida (Hing): Popularly known as devils dung or stinking gum, it smells unpleasant. The smell disappears when added to oil. Used in snacks, it is a remedy for stomachaches and cough.

Cloves (Laung): Cloves are unopened, fully-grown and green flower buds dried in the sun. They can be used for culinary and medical purposes. A regular spice in Indian cooking, cloves impart strong and warm flavor. If you have a toothache, cloves come handy. Cloves help in curing chest pains, fever, digestive problems, and cough and cold.

Coriander Seeds (Dhania): How to spot coriander seeds? It is simple. They are hollow, crunchy, nutty flavored and light brown or golden in color. Do you want to get the exact flavor of coriander seeds? Forget buying packed coriander powder, instead opt to grate or crush coriander seeds into powder. The flavor and the essence of the spice remain intact. Medically, they are known to cure sore throat, allergies, digestion problems, fever etc.

Cumin (Jeera): A commonly used spice in India, it has a warm earthy aroma. It releases an aroma, when cooked in hot oil. You can roast them and grate or crush to make cumin powder.

Now that you now some of the secret ingredients, why not use them? Stay tuned and follow us for more secrets that could make your food delicious, spicy and Indian.

PRS spices is a leading spice & herbs supplier that offers range of good quality spices seasonings, cumin powder, chat masala etc. We offer valued spices to meet all cookery needs globally. We are the chain of spices manufacturers and spices exporters of Indian seasonings.